The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-20
Ths Responsibility Of Republican Members
of the Legislature,

The Responsibility Of Republican MDmbDrs
Of the Legislature.
Up to the present time the situation In
the Legislature has been one OF vancouver
Ing for petition. Skirmish lines have been
thrown out to develop the onemy's forces.
1t has been triangular movement in
which ono OF the parties has hardly known
It, strength. Early in tho contest the
position OF the Republican mambars WIS
clearly defined by the caucus, in which 1t
was resolved to stand firm and united
against the Coal Oil Democracy, repre-
sentod by Senator Camden. Thisi itself
was gource Of strength and encourage.
ment to anti. Camden Democrats to make
good their position.
In the meantime Mr.. Camdeu's friends
have been active in trying TO Cedncs or
to brow.b eat the anti CAtHden fiction. TO
this end hu summoned all his herchmen
from different parts Of the State TO DO his
personal work. Loud tenuncintion and
soft persuasion have been tried In turn on
the kicksrs. This las been kept up for
over week with no other results, we arc
glad To know, than to consolidate tho
anti Camden DemccIats. So thu! now the
pituatiun stands, with I'LL the ioIces CON.
pletely in hand, and il such iorma as ss-
cure, without question, Mr. Camden's de-
feat.
Whether Mr.. Camden's defeat will BIO
secured BY each party acting separately
on continuous ballots day by day 10 the
end Of the session, or by coslition be.
tween ant:Csmden Democrats and Rspub.
licans has not been decided upon. II the
former tactics be adopted, which eeons
likely, thon there will be no election OF U.
8. Senator, and Gov. Wilson will appoint,
in that event, Senator Camden's success
cor. If, however, the lstler tactcs DO
adopted. to wit loo c1aiit;oa OF auti.Csm-
del Democrats and Republicans, then, in
that case, tho Rapubliclns would insist
upon having Democrat for whom they
could consistently vote.
Toe Republican party being ia the
minority, the right Of initiation belongs
to the ar.i-Cainden. Democrats, and We
doubt not they will SEC the propiety CT
acting upon tho suggestion here made
if they expect to secure tbs united
strength OF tho Republican members OF
the Legislature. In either case our Re-
publican members ahould weigh we'll
their own responsibility in the pren!see.
In no event can We aIotd to asaiss
Senator Camden. That would identity the
Republican party with tho Coal Oh
Democracy. The vote Ct one Rspubl-
an member for Mr.. Camden, weakens
our cause that much, and places ua on
ground that is Eot tenablc for the future.
tits important that We not only have q
clean record 10 90 before the people upon,
but that it be wisely adapted to the
events which are soon and certainly to
come upon US as party.
The contest in lsSS will be largely fought
upon the Issue OF monopoly End anti
monopoly, the Standard Oil Company
being the occasion Of The presentation OF
the issue. Its methods in business, and
especially its methods in politica, have
grown to be UNDESIRABLE, and tho party
which has any faint Of utilization with its
political methods is doomed to defeat.
This Issue will BIO especially made in Wet
Virginia. Hence tho effort to divide the
responsibility Of Senator Camden's cleo.
ton or defeat with the Republican party.
This done, there ia no fighting chance for
us in lSSS. we should be paralyzad by
our own act, TO cay nothing OF tho mis-
fortune which would be cntsiled upon tho
State by our u2wise action.
Nothing Is left Republicanp, therefore,
but to let Mr.. Camden severely alone.
However much Republicans may like him
personally, as politician be sums' up all
that is undesirable in our politics.